The Jews, the chosen people?

28-3-2006 | IslamWeb

Question:

It is said that the Jews are the chosen people by Allaah, what is the basis of this statement? Is there any basis for it in the Torah, as we know that Allaah is angry about them?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

The Quran testifies that Allaah had chosen the children of Israel at their time, and that He preferred them over all other people of their time. There are many verses in this regard. However, they were not chosen for their race or colour, but it was due to the great number of Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, that were sent to them. It is confirmed that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "The children of Israel were governed by Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention; every time a Prophet dies, another Prophet would come to them." [Muslim] Allaah Says (what means): {And [mention O Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )], when Moses said to his people, “O my people, remember the favour of Allaah upon you when He appointed among you Prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds.}[Quran 5:20]. Allaah further Says (what means): {And We certainly chose them by knowledge over [all] the worlds.}[Quran 44:32]. Yet, they were ungrateful for this bounty and denied what the Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, brought to them. Thus, they deserved Allaah's Wrath and Curse. They have been put under humiliation [by Allaah] wherever they were overtaken, except for a covenant from Allaah and a treaty from the people, and Allaah made of them apes and pigs, and so forth. To conclude, the Jews were preferred over other people at the time of their Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, as they sometimes obeyed them, but most of the time they belied them and even killed them. Allaah Says (what means): {But it is [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.}[Quran 2:87]. However, when Allaah sent the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) as the last Messenger, Allaah considered the best people those who followed him sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). Allaah Says (what means): {You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind.}[Quran 3:110]. Allaah further Says (what means): {And thus We have made you a median [i.e. just] community that you will be witnesses over the people.}[Quran 2:143]. Since this was the situation, the Jews at the time of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) were not better with him than they were with the previous Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, rather they belied him, and harmed him and even plotted to kill him.

Allaah Knows best.

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